Agenda and minutes

There were no substitutes declared.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Simon Cole and Louise Marston.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 25 May 2016 (copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 May 2016, were unanimously accepted by the Committee as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

Members of the public who live or work in Forest Heath are invited to put one question/statement of not more than 3 minutes duration relating to items to be discussed in Part 1 of the agenda only.  If a question is asked and answered within 3 minutes, the person who asked the question may ask a supplementary question that arises from the reply.

A person who wishes to speak must register at least 15 minutes before the time the meeting is scheduled to start.

There is an overall limit of 15 minutes for public speaking, which may be extended at the Chairman’s discretion.

Public participation had been included within the previous informal discussions and there had been no questions /statements from members of the public.

Report No: PAS/FH/16/015

(For reference purposes, St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Report Number is PAS/SE/16/013)

Further to the joint informal discussions held prior to the meeting with St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee, the Committee formally considered Report No: PAS/FH/16/015.

Members had scrutinised the report and there being no decision required, the Committee noted the Council’s performance using the Balanced Scorecards for Quarter 1, 2016-2017.

Report No: PAS/FH/16/016

(For reference purposes, St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Report Number is PAS/SE/16/014)

Further to the joint informal discussions held prior to the meeting with St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee, the Committee formally considered Report No: PAS/FH/16/016.

Members had scrutinised the report and there being no decision required, the Committee noted the contents of the Quarter 1 West Suffolk Risk Register monitoring report.

Report No: PAS/FH/16/017

(For reference purposes, St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Report Number is PAS/SE/16/015)

Further to the joint informal discussions held prior to the meeting with St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee, the Committee formally considered Report No: PAS/FH/16/017.

Members had scrutinised the report and there being no decision required, the Committee noted the contents of the work programme for 2016-2017.

Report No: PAS/FH/16/018

The Committee received Report No: PAS/FH/16/018, which set out the financial performance for the first quarter of 2016-2017 and forecasted outturn position for 2016-2017.

Attached at Appendix A and B to the report was details of the Council’s revenue performance and year end forecasted outturn position.  Appendix C to the report set out the Council’s capital financial position for the first three months of 2016-2017, which showed expenditure of £1,019,000. Finally, a summary of the earmarked reserves was attached at Appendix D, along with the forecast year end positon for 2016-2017.

The Resources and Performance Team would continue to work with Budget Holders to monitor capital spend and project progress closely for the remainder of the financial year and an updated position would be presented to the Committee on a quarterly basis. 

The Committee scrutinised the report in detail, Officers provided particular explanation on the variances set out in Paragraphs 1.2.3 and outlined the reasoning for these.

There being no decisions required, the Committee noted the Quarter 1 performance and the 2016-2017 year end forecast financial position.

Report No: PAS/FH/16/019

The Committee received Report No: PAS/FH/16/019 which summarised:

(a)         The Council’s Annual Treasury Management Investment Activities for the year 2015-2016; and

(b)         Provided a summary of the investment activity for the first three months of the 2016-2017 financial year.

The Committee scrutinised the Annual Treasury Management Report 2015-2016 and the Investment Activity for 1 April 2016 to 30 June 2016, and asked a number of questions to which officers duly responded. 

Offices made particular reference to the implications of Brexit on the financial forecast; the long-term impact of which was unknown.  Members were assured that Officers would continue to monitor the situation closely and would provide regular updates to the Committee.

Lastly, Members were advised that future Statements of Compliance (attached at Appendix 5) would include the name of the Senior Auditor who had signed the document.

The Committee noted the investment activity for April to June 2016, and with the vote being unanimous, it was

          RECOMMENDED

That subject to the approval of full Council, the Annual Treasury Management Report for 2015-2016, attached as Attachment 1 to Report No: PAS/FH/16/019 be approved.